# plotting

/ˈpɫɑtɪŋ/ (US) · /plˈɒtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/plotting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. secretly planning

verb · CEFR B2

making a secret plan to do something, especially something illegal or harmful.

For teachers: engaging in a secret scheme or conspiracy to achieve a specific, often nefarious, goal.

- The villains were plotting to steal the crown jewels from the museum.
- Intelligence agencies monitored the group for months, suspecting they were plotting a coordinated attack on the city's infrastructure.

### 2. marking on a map or graph

verb · CEFR B2

marking points on a map or a graph to show where something is or how it changes.

For teachers: the act of marking coordinates or data points on a chart, map, or graph to illustrate a path or relationship.

- The captain spent the evening plotting the ship's course on a paper map.
- After collecting the results of the experiment, the students began plotting the data points to see if a clear trend emerged.

### 3. storytelling

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

planning the main events and sequence of a story or movie.

For teachers: the process of devising the sequence of events and narrative structure for a literary or cinematic work.

- The author spent weeks plotting the mystery before she wrote the first chapter.
- Successful novelists often spend more time plotting the intricate twists of their thrillers than they do on the actual drafting process.

## Examples

- They are plotting a surprise party for their friend.
- The detectives discovered that the group had been plotting the bank robbery for several months.
- By carefully plotting the movement of the stars over several weeks, the ancient navigators were able to determine their exact position at sea with surprising accuracy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.